Juan Rodriguez, who was in debt and faced bankruptcy, won the largest-ever New York state lottery jackpot

$149 million jackpot protected the winner from bankruptcy

The largest-ever New York lottery jackpot found its winner in a tight corner. Juan Rodriguez, 49, was in serious debt when he bought a lucky lottery ticket on the day he was declared bankrupt.

Suddently the car park attendant, who had just 53 cents in the bank, won the $149 million jackpot that may drastically change his life.

According to Independent Online, Rodriquez was born in a poor family in Colombia. When he moved to the U.S. with his family eight years ago, he started working in a garage on 49th Street, but was still struggling to make ends meet. It seemed nothing could change his lifestyle. He was forced to leave his wife Iris because she could no longer live with him as he was not able to keep track of his money.

"One minute I'm broke, now I've so much money I don't know what to do with it," admitted Juan Rodriguez. "I give thanks to the man upstairs for giving me the opportunity. I am going to do with it all I can."

The jackpot will help to solve both his financial and private problems. Juan now can pay off his debts and return to his home in Queens, New York, where his wife lives. Juan is also going to help his pregnant daughter, Katty, whose baby girl is due in February.

Katty Rodriguez told 7Online that the money is as miracle and all of the credit goes to God. "My dad, he had to file for bankruptcy two days before he won, so that to me is a blessing," she added.